VW Amarok Fuel Regulator Issues: DIY Fix Guide

Very familiar with this issue as I experienced something similar with my 2012 VW Touareg diesel. As someone with moderate automotive repair experience, these symptoms definitely align with fuel system problems. Initially, I also thought it was just the fuel regulator, but after proper diagnostics at my workshop, the real culprit was a defective high pressure pump. The symptoms were identical to yours, rough idling, occasional stalling, check engine light, and reduced power output. The repair involved: Complete diagnostics of the fuel system, Replacement of the high pressure pump, Cleaning of the fuel lines, System reprogramming Total cost came to 1510€, including parts and labor. The repair resolved all issues completely, and the engine has been running smoothly since. Before you proceed with repairs, could you share: Current mileage, Any recent fuel system maintenance, Specific error codes from the check engine light, Whether the problems started suddenly or developed gradually This information would help determine if your car maintenance situation matches what I experienced. Car sensors can sometimes trigger similar symptoms for different underlying issues, so proper diagnostics are crucial to prevent unnecessary repairs. The engine misfire symptoms you describe could indeed be fuel-related, but could also stem from other components. Best to have a professional run a complete diagnostic before replacing parts.

Latest service was completed at 25000km. The rough idling and power issues started gradually over the past month. After running diagnostics, error code P0087 appeared, indicating fuel rail pressure too low. This seems to align with both fuel regulator and high pressure pump issues you mentioned. The engine misfire symptoms have definitely gotten worse, especially during cold starts. My fuel economy dropped from about 7L/100km to nearly 9L/100km recently. The stalling happens more frequently now, particularly when the engine is still cold. Have scheduled an appointment for next week to get it properly checked. Hopefully the fix will be less expensive than your case.

Good to hear back from you about this. Your symptoms and diagnostic code P0087 are remarkably similar to what I experienced with my Touareg, especially the gradual onset and cold start issues. The fuel economy drop you mentioned is particularly telling. In my case, the fuel injection system was struggling to maintain proper pressure, causing both the poor economy and the engine misfire symptoms. When my high pressure pump was replaced, the workshop also found some contamination in the fuel lines. While your repair costs might differ, consider requesting a full fuel system inspection and cleaning alongside any component replacement. This preventive step helped avoid future issues in my case. A few quick points based on your update: The cold start issues strongly suggest fuel pressure problems, Your 2L/100km fuel economy drop matches the pattern, The error code confirms low fuel rail pressure, just like my case Since your automotive repair appointment is already scheduled, request they specifically check both the high pressure pump and fuel volume regulator, as either could trigger these symptoms. The check engine warning combined with your diagnostic code should give them a clear starting point. Would be interested to hear what they find during the inspection. The relatively low mileage suggests this might be a component fault rather than general wear and tear.

Thanks for the detailed info about the cold start problems and diagnostic results. The P0087 code does seem to point toward what you experienced with your Touareg. Really helpful to know about the fuel contamination issue you encountered too. My mileage is currently at 28000km. Beyond the regular service intervals, no specific fuel system maintenance has been done yet. You mentioned the problems developed over a month in your case, mine started with just occasional rough idling about 6 weeks ago. The repair costs you shared give me a realistic budget to expect. Though given my lower mileage, hopefully it won't require a complete fuel system overhaul like yours did. The efficiency drop from 7L to 9L/100km is definitely concerning though. The shop has scheduled comprehensive fuel system diagnostics for next week. They mentioned they will specifically check both the fuel regulator and high pressure pump based on the symptoms. Will update once I know more about what they find. Thanks again for taking time to share your experience, it helped confirm I'm on the right track with the diagnosis.